2002 Acura MDX Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2002 Acura MDX, 61% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 97,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (14% of reports).
- 125power train complaints
- 97,500median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $6,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 17 of 125 complaints (14%)
- Torque converter: mentioned in 14 of 125 complaints (11%)
- Second gear: mentioned in 8 of 125 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2002 Acura MDX at $6,800, and half of them between $6,100 and $7,700.
Based on 21 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2016), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 115 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 125 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Acura MDX power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 MDX | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2025 MDX | 5 | 5% | — |
| 2024 MDX | 2 | 5% | 9,747 |
| 2023 MDX | 11 | 26% | 57,592 |
| 2022 MDX | 69 | 44% | 97,000 |
| 2020 MDX | 21 | 9% | 26,000 |
| 2019 MDX | 31 | 16% | 26,520 |
| 2018 MDX | 23 | 14% | 40,000 |
| 2017 MDX | 64 | 25% | 37,000 |
| 2016 MDX | 112 | 30% | 31,002 |
| 2015 MDX | 12 | 17% | 52,000 |
| 2014 MDX | 27 | 16% | 27,500 |
| 2013 MDX | 4 | 13% | 47,457 |
| 2012 MDX | 13 | 17% | 78,000 |
| 2011 MDX | 8 | 11% | 44,390 |
| 2010 MDX | 5 | 11% | 29,612 |
| 2009 MDX | 8 | 15% | 51,415 |
| 2008 MDX | 3 | 6% | 53,000 |
| 2007 MDX | 8 | 8% | 93,000 |
| 2006 MDX | 38 | 44% | 69,450 |
| 2005 MDX | 87 | 48% | 79,828 |
| 2004 MDX | 77 | 45% | 91,000 |
| 2003 MDX | 104 | 50% | 109,000 |
| 2002 MDX | 125 | 61% | 97,500 |
| 2001 MDX | 131 | 58% | 104,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: On some mini vans, sport utility and passenger vehicles, certain operating conditions can result in heat build-up between the countershaft and secondary shaft second gears in the automatic transmission, eventually leading to gear tooth chipping or gear breakage.
Risk: Gear failure could result in transmission lockup, which could result in a crash.
Fix: On vehicles with 15,000 miles or less, the dealer will update the transmission with a simple revision to the oil cooler return line to increase lubrication to the second gear. On vehicles with more than 15,000 miles, the dealer will inspect the transmission to identify gears that have already experienced discoloration due to overheating. If discoloration exists, the transmission will be replaced if discoloration is not present, the dealer will perform the revision to the oil cooler return line. The recall began on april 21, 2004, for pilot, odyssey, and mdx owners. Owners of the accord vehicles will start receiving letters on june 28, 2004, and on june 29, 2004, for owners of the tl and cl vehicles. Owners should contact honda at 1-800-999-1009 or acura at 1-800-382-2238.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The vehicle's transmission is faulty. I took it to a second-hand repair shop because, while I was driving on the freeway, the speed had been dropping rapidly. I later found out they recalled the transmission for this Acura in 2005. It is 2026. I took it to a dealership and asked about the…
The contact owns a 2002 Acura MDX. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that she depressed the accelerator pedal and the RPMâs revved; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over, turned off and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 acura mdx. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle failed to shift from second gear. Additionally, the engine revved. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2002 Acura MDXs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 125 owner complaints about power train for the 2002 Acura MDX (61% of the 205 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Acura MDX power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 97,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2002 Acura MDX?
Owners report a typical cost of $6,800 (half paid between $6,100 and $7,700), from 21 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2002 Acura MDX?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 17 of 125 complaints, followed by “torque converter” (14).
See all 2002 Acura MDX problems or power train problems across all MDX years.